DOCKETED  
Docket Number:  20-AAER -03 
Project Title:  Amend Title 20 Computer and Monitor Regulations  
TN #:  234979  
Document Title:  Attachment A to standard 399  
Description:  Attachment A to standard 399 economic and fiscal impact 
statement for  
appliance efficiency rulemaking  
Filer:  Soheila Pasha  
Organization:  California Energy Commission  
Submitter Role:  Commission Staff   
Submission Date:  10/1/2020 2:00:45 PM  
Docketed Date:  10/1/2020  
 ECONOMIC AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT 
Standard Form 399  
Attachment A  
 
 
 INTRODUCTION  The proposed regulations relate to Title 20 appliance efficiency standards for computers and computer monitors. Recently, the CEC has been presented with a list of new 
technologies  for computers and computer monitors  that were not available at the time of 
the previously completed computers rulemaking  in 2017.  The proposed changes are 
unlikely to have any quantifiable economic or fiscal impacts. The new technologies include the following:  
 
• Computer monitors with high refresh rates ; 
• Intermediate transfer rate Local Area Network (LAN)  ports;  
• Multi -screen notebook computers ; and 
• Notebooks exhibiting cyclical behavior . 
  ECONOMIC AND FISCAL IMPACT S 
 
The proposed changes are unlikely to have any quantifiable economic or fiscal impacts.  
The CEC proposes amendments to the Title 20 Appliance Efficiency Regulations that 
would modify  and clarify  existing standards and test procedures for computers and 
computer monitors to incorporate new technologies and innovations that were not 
known at the time of the previously completed rulemakings.   
 
The proposed regulations provide a new energy allowance, or “adder”, for a type of 
new, innovative computer gaming monitor. This new technology allows  users  to view 
image contents with a much faster refresh rate and is mostly marketed for computer 
game players . This type of consumer typically uses computer monitors in the higher -end 
price range and upgrading their monitors with this new technology is not expected to 
have an identifiable cost impact. The total amount of computer  monitors sold is not 
expected to change as a result of this rulemaking, as the decision to purchase a 
computer  monitor  is tied to factors other than the presence or absence of this new 
technology. Therefore, there will not be any identifiable increase or decrease in 
manufactur er or retailer revenues or costs as a result of these proposed regulations.  
 
The proposed regulations add a new energy adder for a new type of Ethernet  that is 
integrated on the motherboard and provides data transfer rates of more than 1 gigabits 
per second and less than 10 gigabits per second. However, such Ethernet ports that are 
not integrated on the motherboard and are provided through an add- in card, receive the 
generic energy adder provided for all add-in cards. According to information from manufacturers, t his new technology is  not expected to impact the overall energy use or 
the cost of computers because they are expected to replace some Ethernet ports  with 
data transfer rates of less than 1 gigabit per second and some of the Ethernet ports with 
data transfer rates of more than 10 gigabit per second both of which consume energy.  
Under the current regulations, the new technology would be eligible for sale; however, it 
would only receive an energy allowance for the Ethernet ports that are provided through 
an add- in card. This  means that for computer models that cannot accommodate an add-
in card Ethernet, manufacturers would need to reduce energy consumption in other 
parts of the computer or forgo using the new technology altogether. Providi ng the new 
energy allowance adds  flexibility to computer manufacturers by providing an adequate 
allowance that allows for proper design of the computer.  
The proposed regulations clarify that multi -screen notebooks are in fact a type of 
notebook computers a nd are subject to notebook computer standards.  The CEC does 
not expect this clarification to change the expected energy savings or cost to individuals 
and businesses that purchase these products.  
 
The proposed regulations modify  the test procedure for note book computers that exhibit 
cyclical behavior. This modification is not expected to impact the energy use or cost of 
the product. It just ensures the accuracy of the reported data.  
 
The proposed regulations do not create the need for a new, non-existent good or 
service . Instead,  it allows for  the improvement of products that will replace some of the 
existing goods in the market. These are the new generations of the same product s and 
the total amount of computers sold  and the overall net cost of those products is not 
expected to change as a result of this  rulemaking. Businesses engaged in the 
manufacturing or sale of computers and computer monitors will benefit by being able to 
market and sell  more product diversity and include products that ut ilize new technologies . 
For consumers, including businesses, small businesses and state and local agencies 
that purchase and use computers and computer monitors, this broader product offerings 
in the California market typically leads to greater competition and stable or  slightly  
decreasing prices. The proposed changes will ensure that California residents and 
businesses will continue to have access to new and innovative technologies.